Grade 5Matheasy
Order of Operations
Order of Operations — Order of Operations worksheet for Grade 5.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Apply the correct sequence of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to solve multi-step arithmetic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Identify which operation to perform first in expressions containing mixed operations without parentheses
- Solve 10 progressively structured problems that reinforce the hierarchy of multiplication and division before addition and subtraction
- Explain why the order of operations matters by comparing correct answers with incorrect answers from solving in the wrong sequence
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Review the PEMDAS rule with your student before starting. Write it on a sticky note and place it near the worksheet as a reference. Emphasize that for Grade 5 level, you'll focus on 'Multiplication and Division before Addition and Subtraction.'
- Step 2: Have your student work through the first 2-3 problems together as guided practice. For each problem, ask: 'Which operation should we do first?' and have them point to or circle it before calculating.
- Step 3: Assign the remaining 7-8 problems for independent practice. Remind them to pause before solving and identify which operation comes first (usually the multiplication or division if the problem has mixed operations).
- Step 4: Review completed answers together. For any incorrect problems, have your student explain what operation they performed first—this diagnostic step reveals whether the error was computational or a sequencing misunderstanding.
- Step 5: Reinforce learning by creating 2-3 additional practice problems verbally (e.g., 'What is 5 plus 2 times 3?') and solving them together, emphasizing the sequence each time.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Use the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) consistently, but emphasize that multiplication and division are equal priority (work left to right), as are addition and subtraction. Students often mistakenly think multiplication always comes before division—clarify that they perform whichever comes first from left to right.
Have students circle or underline the operation they will perform first before solving each problem. This physical step prevents common errors where students rush through and perform operations in the wrong order. For example, in the problem 2 + 3 × 4, have them mark the multiplication sign first, then solve.
Common mistake: Students often add or subtract before multiplying. Address this by explicitly showing side-by-side examples: 2 + 3 × 4 solved correctly (14) versus incorrectly (20), then ask 'Which answer makes sense?' This concrete comparison helps reinforce the rule.
Since this worksheet uses only easy difficulty problems with whole numbers and basic operations, use it as a confidence-builder. Celebrate correct sequences to establish the habit now, before introducing parentheses or exponents that add complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does order matter in math? Can't I just solve problems left to right?
Great question! Order of operations ensures everyone gets the same correct answer. For example, 2 + 3 × 4 could equal 20 (if you go left to right: 2 + 3 = 5, then 5 × 4 = 20) or 14 (if you multiply first: 3 × 4 = 12, then 2 + 12 = 14). Mathematicians agreed on a rule so that 14 is always correct. Following this rule is like following traffic rules—everyone knows what to expect and things work smoothly!
My child solved 6 ÷ 2 × 3 as 1 instead of 9. What went wrong?
Your child likely divided first (6 ÷ 2 = 3) but then forgot to multiply that result by 3. The error is a sequencing issue: division and multiplication have equal priority, so you work from left to right. The correct order is: 6 ÷ 2 = 3, then 3 × 3 = 9. Teach this by saying 'Division and multiplication are best friends—they're equally important, so do whichever one you see first as you read from left to right.'
Should I teach my Grade 5 student about parentheses on this worksheet?
This Grade 5 easy worksheet focuses on problems without parentheses, which is the right foundation. Once your student confidently solves these 10 problems, you can introduce parentheses as a 'special instruction' that means 'do this part first, before anything else.' For now, keep the focus on the basic PEMDAS rule with multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.
How can I tell if my child truly understands order of operations or just got lucky with these answers?
Ask your child to explain their thinking out loud: 'Tell me which operation you did first and why.' Have them solve a problem in two different ways (correct and incorrect) and ask which answer they think is right and why. A student who understands will recognize the correct answer and explain that multiplication must come before addition. A student who guessed will struggle to explain the reasoning.
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